Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have sued the producer of the popular multiplayer survival adventure game “Palworld” for patent infringement, the companies announced on Thursday.
They filed the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court on 18 September 2024, seeking an injunction and compensation for damages.
The companies alleged that the game developed by Tokyo-based Pocketpair Inc. infringes on several patent rights. However, the companies have not disclosed the specific patents that Pocketpair is accused of violating.
“Palworld,” often described as “Pokémon with guns,” quickly became a hit, attracting over 25 million players within a month of its mid-January release. In the game, players use guns to capture and train adorable creatures called “pals.”
The Pokémon Company had stated in January that it would investigate and take action against any intellectual property rights infringement.